::Last-Child – Ted Drake

Accessibility | Inclusion | Belonging | DEI AF

Resist with Ted
  • Designing for Cognitive Accessibility

    Designing for Cognitive Accessibility

    One of the quieter but important themes at this year’s CSUN Assistive Technology Conference was cognitive accessibility. Accessibility conversations often focus on screen readers, captions, and keyboard navigation. Those are essential. But many of the barriers people face when using technology are not physical. They are cognitive. Interfaces that are confusing, overwhelming, unpredictable, or mentally…

  • Beyond Compliance: Sessions at CSUN 2026 That Embraced the Broader Spectrum of Disability and Inclusive Design

    Beyond Compliance: Sessions at CSUN 2026 That Embraced the Broader Spectrum of Disability and Inclusive Design

    At the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2026, I found myself drawn to sessions that widened the frame. Not just sessions about websites, audits, or checklists. Not just sessions about whether something passed or failed. I was most interested in the work that treated disability as broad, lived, and interconnected. The sessions that looked at mobility,…

  • Don’t make me think… like a designer

    Don’t make me think… like a designer

    You walk up to a door with a big handle that clearly says pull. So you pull. Nothing happens. Then you notice the tiny sign that says PUSH. That moment is small, but it stays with you. You hesitate. You feel a little foolish, even though the problem was not you. The design told you…

  • Establishing a spoon theory policy at Intuit

    Establishing a spoon theory policy at Intuit

    Most people don’t think about their energy. Day’s are full of physical and cognitive activities, stress, and challenges. If we need a boost, we grab some coffee or rest our eyes for a few minutes. After a bit, we’re ready to jump back in. But many people don’t have endless energy supplies. Physical, cognitive, and…

  • Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    Impressions from the Zero Project 2026 Conference in Vienna

    I was invited to join the Zero Project Conference in Vienna this year, and I was proud to represent both Intuit and the Magical Bridge Foundation. Across three days, I saw a wide range of disability-focused work, but the strongest message was consistent: accessibility moves forward when disabled people are treated as leaders, not just…

  • Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Using Maturity Models to Build Accessibility That Lasts

    Accessibility work often starts with urgency. A customer complaint, a legal requirement, a failed audit, or a team member raising their hand and saying, “This isn’t working for everyone.” Those moments matter, but urgency alone doesn’t create durable change. What sustains accessibility over time is structure, shared understanding, and a clear sense of progression. This…

  • How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    How to Tell Better Accessibility Stories with Data (and AI)

    Accessibility work often happens behind the scenes – design thinking sessions, backlog refinements, bug fixes that never make the release notes. Because that effort is invisible, it’s easy for accessibility to be misunderstood, deprioritized, or treated as a checkbox. But when you pair data with narrative, accessibility becomes visible, meaningful, and aligned with shared goals.…

  • Building the Brain of Your Accessibility AI

    Building the Brain of Your Accessibility AI

    Preface This document reflects the most accurate guidance I can offer today, based on the current state of accessibility standards, AI tooling, and real-world practice. Both accessibility and AI are evolving quickly. As models improve, platforms change, and new standards emerge, some of the details and recommendations here will need to adapt. The core principles—intentional…

  • AI Prompt: Have Gemini summarize your folders

    AI Prompt: Have Gemini summarize your folders

    I wasn’t a big fan of Gemini until the latest version and now it’s become a key part of my workflow at Intuit. A key advantage is the native inclusion with Google Drive. Marco Salsiccia is our mobile accessibility expert and has created numerous folders of videos showing the screen reader experience in different applications.…

  • Don’t Change the Company—Reflect It

    Don’t Change the Company—Reflect It

    Aligning Accessibility with What Already Matters Every company has its own personality. It might be obsessed with speed, driven by design, led by customer feedback, or focused on data. The identity shapes how decisions get made—and if you want accessibility to last, it has to fit right in. I’ve seen accessibility efforts succeed (and survive)…

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